Hi all I found this picture on my husbands laptop. I remember him taking these pictures, I forbid him to post it until after I came home I knew my daughter or my mother had not seen this and if they happened on to it they would be upset. I told my husband that people would see this and say " Does this woman have any shame"? I put these most embrassing pictures on here, not for people to say " my what a big belly" or " gee she sure has alot of strech marks" but for those who have not had the surgery and wonder what the post op incision looks like, so here it is, 2 days post op, and for those who are so analytical there are 38 staples on the wound. The staples were removed prior to my discharge and steri- strips were applied and lasted about 10 days before they feel off. I wanted to post that in the past 3-4 days I have been having some very familiar pains, they feel somewhat like pancreas pains. I have had to increase my oral pain meds again, and will speak with my pcp on Monday, I have an appointment on Tues. for my pump to be decreased again and I think I will cancel that appointment and let them take it down again when I go for my refill. I will try again, but I wanted to post that I am having some pain orgin unknown.

10-17-06

I went to the pain management Dr. today and my intrathecal pump was decreased by 10%. My surgery has been less than 4 weeks and I am now already decreasing the amount of baseline pain medication. Everyone there was pleased with my progress. I also took all of my old medications and had them count and waste them. There were people in my family who said " why did you do that". My rationale is that I have no pancreas pain now, if I should develope pain that necessitates an Actiq then I need to be seen by a physician right away, something is terribly wrong. I have went weeks now with no pancreatic pain, I don't think now that I am eatting that it is going to return out of the blue. I still have some post- op pain and that is a deep pain, so much different from the pancreatic pain.
My BS dropped on me today, but it was my fault, the pain management Dr. is about 90 miles round trip and I didn't eat lunch. We were in a hurry and the office had moved we had to find it. Once in there I had to meet with the NP's and then talk with the nurse who fills my pump by the time we got out to the front desk I felt shaky, and I knew I needed to check it. It was 67 I felt shaky and nauseous, I used a glucose chew my husband was in the process of driving to Boston Market. I ate most of my food, especially the carbs. I checked when we got home it was 126. I am usually in the 120's after the 2 hour mark, I am so sensitive to the Novolog that I have only adminstered it twice and both times were in the hosptial. Every time I had it, there was a hypoglycemic incident. It is not unusual for the BS to be 149 2 hours after a meal and then 40 minutes later be 107. My weekly average is 117 for the past 7 days. Dr. Sutherland said " 120 fasting and 140 post pranial ( or after eatting)." The site of my j-tube has almost healed it is very small, about 1/4 inch in depth. All in all this surgery has been extremely succesful for me. Anyone who like to get into contact with Dr. Sutherland may call 612-625-7600 this is the office number.

Lisa

Friday 10-13-06

I saw my pcp today. I recieved the injections that Minnesota forgot to give me. If you have a tp/ict you should have the pneumonia shot and menigitis shot and a flu shot every year. In addition to the injections I also had some lab work done to check liver function, the results will be back next week. I told my husband this year when the flu hits I will wear a mask in public, I am not about to get sick. I have had all of the feeling bad I want.
I have made another friend in this battle against pancreatitis. I met a mother recently of a 4 year old girl with pancreatitis. I gave her Dr. Sutherlands e-mail address and told her " if he can't help you he will tell you who can". It breaks my heart to think of a little kid suffering; especially this way. She is determined not to let this take her baby from her, which is a good start. I have encouraged her to join some boards to learn about the surgery and to speak with others.
This experience with pancreatitis was bad and painful, but I have met some fine people because of it. It is what we learn through the trying events of life that make us or break us. It is how we share the gifts we are given.
There are still many waiting for their surgery, I will be able to relax more when I know all of my friends have had their surgeries and they are all better. The way it should be....

Lisa

October 10,2006
Seems that some of my fan club are wanting more information about how I am doing. First thanks Guys, without loyal readers there wouldn't be a need. I don't want to give the wrong impression that I am out running around, or eatting bowls full of food. This is the recoup phase, and boy do I need it. I don't know if I am getting old or if it was because I was so sick when this surgery was done, but I sure feel like I have been hit by a truck. I have been on alot of pain medicines over the years and Dr. Sutherland told me that would be the worse part getting off the narcotics, he said "you maybe one who can't, although you seem determined to me, even if you can't you really did have a problem, so it shouldn't be such a big deal". I just feel weak, I did loose 2L of blood and did have 3 blood transfusions ( 2 in surgery and 1 on the floor). Here is a picture of me when Michael picked me up at the airport. I still don't know how I did all of that, I guess you do what you have to do. It was about 1am last Wed. morning 10-4-06 when my flight came in.
I have been thinking about what I could do that would make it easier for those who follow in my foot steps. There were alot of things that I wasn't prepared for and things that I was too prepared for. When packing for this surgery, don't do like I did and take a bunch of stuff, you will be responsible for getting it back and believe me you will not feel like carrying all of the stuff you will have. I was told I might have physical therapy so I took clothes for rolling in the floor and never wore them one time, it was just stuff to lug from the hospital to the hotel and then to the airport. Don't take more than 2-3 outfits plus the one you are wearing. Don't worry about tons of underwear you won't be wearing them, I tried with the staples and it just rubbed them don't waste your space, take about 5 pair plus the ones your wearing. Do take a tooth brush one will NOT be offered to you, plus your favorite tooth paste. Do take a hair brush. Don't worry about a nice pair of pjs or gown you will be in a hospital gown your whole stay, I had the PICC line up until discharge and the way they put my in no arm opening was big enough except those big huge hospital gowns take at the most 2 pairs of something to sleep in. One thing I really like is clean socks, you will be up moving after day 2 take as many as you think you will need, the moving is not a constant you just get up and walk when you want to (no one ever told me hey get up and walk, I just asked if I could and once they saw I was steady on my own two feet they let me at it) I tried to walk at least 2-3 times/day around the unit and then of course I left the unit some for trips to the pharmacy. Let me touch base on this subject: if you get sent to pharmacy for YOUR OWN glucometer make sure that pharamcy gives you everything you will need or you will make unnecessary trips that you don't have the energy for this is what you need from them 1. glucometer 2. strips 3. lancets 4. control solution ( this will make more sense with teaching) make yourself a check sheet and put it in your bag and take it with you when you go that way you don't have to walk down there like I did multiple times, you will get NO sympathy from the nurses they will tell you to do it, go get it yourself. I think it is there way of making us responsible for our diabetes education. They don't understand how bad we hurt, that is one thing that I got right off the bat, rememeber no one understood pancreatitis either that is just the way it is.
Don't bother bringing things like make-up ( you won't feel like applying it) rollers ( no I didn't go that far) don't bother with things like books you can't give them your full attention, your attention is drawn up with all the information being thrown at you and resting. The biggest thing I can say is rest up, you will get NO REST in the hospital, just as soon as you think you are comfortable and a sleep they will wake you up for your hourly BS test. Don't take large sums of money with you for safety they will have you lock up ALL valueables don't take rings or jelwery with you ( they will take it off of you) everything will go into the safe, and make sure the bag has your name on it not someone elses like mine. You will need picture ID, I suggest 1 credit card, 1-2 blank checks ( just encase)and your insurance cards anything else leave it at home unless it is something necessary I have to carry a card on me that says I have an implanted device without this card I cannot board an airplane because I make the metal detectors go off and of course they search me they have even put their hands up my shirt before, once they feel the pump under my skin and see the card they are ok with it. Another thing that might make things a little easier that I did was I asked my primary care Dr. for my insulin syringes before hand because the pharmacy in MN tried to give me a case of these it is a huge box that I didn't have room for I got these before I went and took about 10 syringes with me and cut the Rx off the box to cover us if we got pulled over. They will load you down with medications so much that I didn't have room for them, becareful I had to throw out things and download some of my stuff I just had to choose between what was the easiest to replace and such. If you have questions feel free to e-mail me at LRSmith84@yahoo.com this blog is dedicated to those people with pancreatitis the men and women who came before me and the ones who will come after me, life doesn't have to be the way that it is, step out of your comfort zone take the risk that things will get better, life with pancreatitis is not something that I would wish on anyone, take heart there is hope, hope that I didn't think existed for a long time. The road is long and hard, but doable. Your life is never going to get better with this disease. I would have rather died trying than died of pancreatitis. Thanks again to the dedicated readers of this blog, if we can reach one person then our efforts and time will have been worth it.

Lisa

It is Saturday morning and it is a good day. Lisa got up this morning and checked her blood sugar (94). She had been on 10 units of Lantis and cut it down to 8 and today she says she will cut it down to 7. Dr. Sutherland told her that maybe when she sees her primary care physician next week, maybe she will not need the Lantis at all. That would be nice, but if she does that is ok, too. Yesterday one of the sweetest people we have ever met, Beverly Baker, a friend from church, came over to our house and cleaned. She is a professional cleaning lady and has a business. I have never seen anyone clean that thoroughly. The house looks great. I told Bev that we have to live in one room of the house, because we will be afraid to mess it up. She was such a blessing from God. Lisa said that Bev was a very brave woman, because with a man and his 22 year old daughter living in a house living no telling what condition it would be in. We did a pretty good job, though. We (read: I) never let the dishes pile up or the laundry pile up (for a man, that is saying something). I know the blog is getting boring, but that is a testament to God’s mercy. She is not in the hospital or having a terrible time with her blood sugars. I work in surgery and believe me a long boring surgery is much better than in a long scary one. Take care.

Post Op Day One

This is the picture of Lisa that she did not want me to post until after she was back and doing well. She didn’t want her daughter or her mother to see it and freak out. She was sedated and resting. The emesis basin was there from the night before.

She is doing well. When I got to Dayton International Airport to pick Lisa up, I saw that her flight was delayed. It was suppose to arrive at 10:55 pm and it was an hour late. It was storming real badly, so I wasn’t surprised. I was so glad to see her. I thought that the airport personnel were going to be pushing her in the wheelchair, but she came walking. She had a big grin on her beautiful face when she saw me. I asked her why she wasn’t sitting in a wheelchair being pushed by an airport employee. She said she just started walking, because she didn’t want to wait. That’s my Lisa (LOL). I had a wheelchair for her so sat while we waited for the luggage to arrive on the conveyer belt. On the way home it poured down rain harder than I think I ever remember. I had to come to a stop at one point at the side of the highway. There were semi-trucks pulled off everywhere. Not even pouring rain could keep Lisa from home. She was surprised to see that I had bought Hello Kitty Sheets and pillows for her first night back home. She just kept smiling. She said I would not believe how good it felt to be back in her own bed. She sent me out to the MCL Cafeteria to get her some baked cod and Harvard beets. I know the beets are probably pure sugar, but she said they were wonderful. She ate about ¼ of the serving. I am being the domesticated man around the house, and I am making her let me do the things that need done.

Good morning Richmond, In.
Thank YOU JESUS for getting me home in one piece. I may have lost a few pieces along the way, but I think they were garbage organs anyway. I am finally HOME. It is more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.
I am very tired, and worn for the wear. Those of us who have had pancreatitis, must be a special breed ( not patting my own back here, seriously) I don't know how we do it, I guess it is because we have too, I would not have wished the last 10 years on Satan himself, but that is all done and over with now. The surgery is a bigger deal than I ever dreamed, I am so very weak, and tired. But, the pain that I once had is gone. I still have some back pain, and I think it is post-op related. I don't know if I felt the bowel obstruction or the pancreatitis the most before, either way it hurt terribly bad and that is gone now. Now I just have to get my strength built back up. I am having a little difficulty eatting, I think it was because it had been so long since I had eatten any real quantity of food. It is however increasing amounts each day which is good. I didn't get where I couldn't eat over night and won't get where I can eat plates full of food over night either. I will take it slow. My blood sugars are doing well, and have only had to do the coverage insulin 2 while hosptialized. Each time that was only 1 unit of Novalog. I have actually lowered the amount of insulin they had me taking, it was to be 10 U of Lantus and my sugar was 68 at 3am in the hotel, so I drank half a cup of sprite and that brought it right up, seems I go low at night while I am sleeping and that scares me some, I am glad to be home with my family that way they can tell if something is wrong. Dr. Sutherland wants me to see my pcp next week, I am keeping a log of my bs and according to him, I may even have the Lantus discontinued next week, I sure hope so.
I just wanted to let everyone know I am home. Thanks to my frequent visitors and personal "pep team and cheerleading squad." You all know who you are. Thanks to my husband for being the best coach a girl could have. I love hello kitty and came home to a bed made with hello kitty sheets, and a new hello kitty pillow. What a guy... I don't know where I would be without him, my Knight in Shining Armor. There will be much more to tell later, I just want to rest and bask in the relaxation of "HOME".

Thumpy your dead and gone, you won't get my condolensences. Back to the dirt you came from, where you belong.


Lisa

Lisa made it to the Radisson. She was happy to be out of the hospital and is very much looking forward to coming home. She had the bellhop run across the street to get her an apple juice. She is ordering a macaroni and cheese from Applebee’s kid’s menu and will probably have that for lunch and dinner. She can always order more if she wants some later. She says she does not have adequate pain control, but it isn’t so bad if she can just sit down and not move. She was just done arguing with them, and wanted out of there. Dr. Sutherland said he wants to see her again in 3 months and she will decide at that time if she wants to go. Right now, she just wants to be home and the thought of going back to Minnesota is unappealing. She may have a different opinion in 3 months….when it is cold. Ouch. We hate snow, but of course it snows in Indiana too, so that excuse is null and void. Thank you for the cards and E-cards and letters she has received. They came at times when she needed the most encouragement. It meant a lot to her.

Lisa is feeling better about her release that will happen today. She was able to eat something (meat lover's pizza from Pizza Hutt...not). Her blood sugars have been a little more regulated today. She will go to the Radisson today and Will fly home tomorrow. She said there is just no way to prepare for this surgery, because you don't truly know what to expect until you are in the middle of it. She said it is like getting hit by a truck. She knows that people don't have this surgery unless they need it, and that she knew she had to have this surgery. She says she would have been dead in a year at the rate things were going for her and I do not doubt it. It was taking more pain meds to keep her somewhat comfortable. Those of you who suffer from this disease know the looks you get when you have to ask for more pain meds from your doctors and how you feel like you are crawling on your belly to get them. You are also afraid that maybe this will be the time your doctor will say, "No." You always worry about running out and whether or not your doctor is on vacation, and have trouble getting meds from one of the partners. We have been through the whole gambit, and I know you have too. Pharmacy techs and pharmacists giving you the evil eye. I was once accused of selling them by a pharmacists and then when I asked the tech for his name so I could file a complaint with administration, she would not tell me his name. She was trying to protect her own skin, but I had a right to know. Anyway....

She told me today when she ate, it was like she had a fire in her gut and that she could breathe fire. She is not sure whether she took too many digestive enzymes or not enough or what, but it is a learning curve. She had to go back to pharmacy to get the control solution for the glucometer because they didn't include it in the kit. It was $100, what a racket. She will be home soon. I miss her terribly. We talk on the phone often, so that is good.

The doctor was talking about releasing her today, but she does not think she is ready. Her blood sugars kept dropping the whole night and they had to give her glucogon many times through the night. She is worried that because she is not eating anything, she will not get enough to sustain herself. She tried drinking juice through the night, but it wasn't enough to keep her blood sugar up to a managable level. She convinced Dr. Sutherland to keep her one more night, but she could tell he didn't like it.

Hello everyone. Lisa wanted everyone to know that she will be released to a hotel tomorrow sometime. She is still unable to eat much of anything and to drink something is a real chore, but they feel she is ready to be discharged. She will be staying at the Radisson for a couple of days and then fly home Wednesday evening. I will pick her up at the airport.

She had to go the the pharmacy to get her glucometer for her diabetic teaching tomorrow. When she got down there to the pharmacy she discovered that they needed to see her ID and insurance card. Because she had been concerned that someone would steal the wallet out of her purse with her money, she had had the security guard lock it up in the safe. Before he took it, he had her fill out a paper that listed everything that was in it and fill our her name and information. When she called to have them get her stuff for her it took six hours for them to return with it. They had put someone else's name on her wallet. Can you believe that? They had to verify that it was hers, probably by the driver's license..... Brainiacs. When she got back to the pharmacy, she gave them her insurance card and they would not accept it. Lisa told the woman that she had a contract with our insurance company and it didn't matter. Lisa had to sign a paper saying that she would repay the hospital for it and it came to $300. When she got to her room, she discovered there were no test strips in the box and she will have to buy them separately. What a joke. She thinks that Dr. Sutherland and his team was great, the nursing staff needs improvement and they system needs an overhaul. I could lie to you, folks, but that would be doing you a disservice. Shortly she will be out of there and home, and the real recouperation will begin.

God is always faithful, and through this He has shown us his mercy and grace. He is sustaining us without fail.